Instrument for playing guitars, banjos and the like



3, 1963 J. 5. MOSHAY 3,112,668;-

msmumm' FOR PLAYING GUITARS, BANJOS AND THE LIKE Filed May 29, 1961 M/I/JA/TJL Jan 9, Mark? MAJW United States Patent O 3,112,668 INSTRUMENT FOR PLAYING GUITARS, BANJOS AND THE LIKE Joseph S. Moshay, 604 N. Alta Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif. Filed May 29, 1961, Ser. No. 113,173 2 Claims. (Cl. 84-32.2)

The present invention relates to picks, or plectrums, which are used, for example, for playing guitars, banjos,

mandolins, lyres, or other plucked string instruments of the lute family.

As is well known, the guitar, for example, is a stringed instrument which is played by plucking the strings with the fingers of the one hand while those of the other hand stop the strings at the various frets to provide different tones or chords. It is also common practice to pluck the strings of the instrument with a pick, or plectrum, which is usually held between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.

The prior art picks in common usage are, for the most part, composed of a molded plastic. However, these prior art picks are subject to two inherent disadvantages. A first disadvantage is that the prior art picks are dilficult to grasp and have a tendency to slip out of the fingers of the player. This tendency is especially prevalent when the players fingers become somewhat tired after a prolonged interval of playing. A second inherent disadvantage in the prior art molded plastic picks is that they have a tendency to Wear out after a very short time of use.

Somewhat elaborate attempts have been made in the prior art to overcome the tendency of the molded plastic, or other types, of prior art picks to slip out of the fingers of the player. For example, attempts have been made to fasten bits of cork, or other material, to the surfaces of the prior art picks. However, these attempts have proven to be only partially successful, and have added materially to the costs of the picks.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved pick, or plectrum, which is so conceived and constructed that it may be grasped between the thumb and finger of the player in a manner such that there is no tendency for the pick to slip out of the grasp of the player.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved pick, or plectrum, in which the first mentioned objective may be realized without adding to the cost of the pick.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improved pick, or plectrum, which is die-cut rather than molded and which is composed of a material, such as nylon, to exhibit essentially perpetual Wearing capabilities.

The features of the invention which are believed to be new are set forth in the claims. Other objects and advantages thereof, however, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a pick constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the pick shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the pick of FIGURES 1 and 2, the enlarged pick of FIGURE 3 being illustrated as grasped between the thumb and fore-- finger of the player.

3,112,668 Patented Dec. 3, 1963 The illustrated embodiment of the improved pick of the present invention is designated generally as 10; and in its illustrated configuration, the pick 10 is shaped to have a pointed end 14. As noted above, the pick 10 may have any desired shape or size.

In accordance with the present invention, the die-cut nylon pick 10 has an aperture 11 extending through it. This aperture has sufficient diameter to permit the pick it) to be grasped between the thumb T" and forefinger F of the player.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the thumb T and forefinger F are disposed in mutual touching relationship with one another over respective touching areas 12 and 13. The diameter of the aperture 11 is sufiiciently large to permit the thumb and forefinger to be disposed in such mutual touching relationship over an appreciable mutual touching area.

With the construction described above, the pick 10 is capable of being firmly grasped between the thumb and forefinger of the player, and any tendency for the pick to slip from the grasp of the player is thereby obviated.

The improved pick described above is preferably composed, for example, of nylon. Appropriate nylon material may be obtained commercially in strip form of any desired width, or of any desired thickness; For example, nylon strip of a thickness of 30 thousandths of an inch may be used in the construction of small size picks for solo work. On the other hand, nylon strips of a thickness of 40 thousandths of an inch may be used in the construction of larger picks for strumming.

It is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to any particular size or configuration for the picks constructed in accordance with the teachings thereof. Indeed, picks constructed in accordance with the invention may have any desired shape or size.

In the construction of a particular embodiment of the invention, the constructed picks are die-cut from nylon strips, as mentioned above. Then, the picks are hand finished to de-burr the edges, and to provide a finished appearance. This hand finishing may be conveniently carried out by subjecting the picks to emery wheel grinding under water.

The die-cutting instrument used in the fabrication of a constructed embodiment of the invention is of a known type. This die-cutting instrument, for example, operates on the nylon strip first to stamp the hole to be formed in a particular pick, and then subsequently to stamp out the pick itself.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved pick, or plectrum, for plucking a stringed instrument. The improved pick of the present invention is advantageous in that it may be constructed in a simple and expeditious manner, in that it may be grasped by the player without any tendency for it to slip out of his fingers, and in that it exhibits extremely long wearing qualities and capabilities.

I claim:

1. A plectrum for plucking stringed instruments comprising a flat unitary member die cut to have a pointed configuration and having an aperture extending therethrough of a diameter small as compared with the maximum transverse diameter of said member but sufficient to permit the member to be grasped firmly between the thumb and forefinger of a player, with the thumb and forefinger disposed in mutual touching relationship with one another over an appreciable mutual touching area 3 4. 1 through said aperture so as to obviate any tendency for 1,184,561 Napoletano May 23, 1916 the plectrum to slip out of the grasp of the player. 1,263,740 Burdwise Apr. 23, 1918 2. The plectrum defined in claim 1 in which said flat 2,170,179 Wolcott Aug. 22, 1939 unitary member is composed of nylon. 2,484,320 GaletZkY 1949 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 219,184 Great Britain July 24, 1924 1,009,403 Gaynor Nov. 21, 1911 333,779 France Oct. 1, 1903 

1. A PLECTRUM FOR PLUCKING STRINGED INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING A FLAT UNITARY MEMBER DIE CUT TO HAVE A POINTED CONFIGURATION AND HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH OF A DIAMETER SMALL AS COMPARED WITH THE MAXIMUM TRANSVERSE DIAMETER OF SAID MEMBER BUT SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT THE MEMBER TO BE GRASPED FIRMLY BETWEEN THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER OF A PLAYER, WITH THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER DISPOSED IN MUTUAL TOUCHING RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER OVER AN APPRECIABLE MUTUAL TOUCHING AREA THROUGH SAID APERTURE SO AS TO OBVIATE ANY TENDENCY FOR THE PLECTRUM TO SLIP OUT OF THE GRASP OF THE PLAYER. 